"Gear unavailable" - help!

Nuts. "Gear unavailable" again. But just the once. I wonder if it's driver error - maybe subconsciously coming off the gas just a touch as I change gear so the MC box doesn't do it's stuff. Hmmm... Need to pay close attention to my driving and see if I can repeat the problem. Maybe a call into a decent indie.

It can happen....computers are easy to confuse.....


P

Adam

After the day at Bruntie ive had it a couple of times in a year, i asked Migliore and they said if its happening rarely dont worry about it, so i dont. I know its frustrating tho

That's reassuring, thanks. Did Migliore say what causes it? Or what would need to be done to fix it if it happens more often?

Well could just be an "overuse" reaction....but if it persists then something is amiss and needs properly diagnosed


P

Looks like some progress on this. The clutch is 70% worn* and the car is recording 34 counts of "beyond PIS", which is apparently where the clutch doesn't control it's stop point and goes too far. That number probably aligns with the number of stuttery "gear unavailable" MC Shift change errors. The garage's recommendation is either to fit a new clutch or just put up with it - the problem only occurs in MC Shift and even then not all the time. Even so it's a bit sluggish higher up the rev-range even in normal / non-MC mode. But with Le Mans coming up and a summer family European road-trip planned my inclination is to get the thing changed. I don't want it to pack up broad. The car has is only on 35k miles so way below the kind of mileage where I would expect to need a new clutch, but this was a London car for its first three years so has probably been subject to more stop-start than would be ideal.

* what is odd is that the last reading was just over 60%. I can't remember exactly how long ago but at a guess about 5k miles. As the readings are subject to quite a high degree of mechanical / electronic guesswork I suppose the truth my lie 10 or 15% either side of either of those readings.

Clutch over PIS usually indicates a sticking release bearing.

Now that sounds cheaper! Mind you, Voicey, it also sounds like it would need taking apart anyway, would it?

AdamN said:

Now that sounds cheaper! Mind you, Voicey, it also sounds like it would need taking apart anyway, would it?

Click to expand...

Yep. And if it's all apart you may as well have a new clutch fitted if it's 70% worn. Labour is a big part of the cost on a clutch change.

Booger. Still, been expecting it and the money I didn't spend on a warranty last year is what will pay for it. I'll be getting a couple of quotes.

Yes, sadly the time taken to get to the release bearing means that you'd be better off changing the clutch anyway.

AdamN - My my MCshift clutch was changed at 30k by Giallo in Kent...very happy with their work so worth a call and speak to Mathew.

If you want to know costs please PM me

Thanks Voicey. At 70% worn I may as well change it. When I got the car at just under 20k miles the clutch was 50%, give or take. Now, at 35k miles, it's at 70%. Assuming its first few years did involve a bit too much time in town traffic (both previous owners were London-based) it seems fair to assume that my use has been kinder to the clutch and that they *should* give 50-60k miles before needing changing. Seems a reasonable rule of thumb for prospective new owners to keep in mind when comparing mileage and prices.

Is there a consensus view on whether hard and fast changes are better for wear than more sedate driving (not that it would slow any of us down, I, sure!).

mcs said:

AdamN - My my MCshift clutch was changed at 30k by Giallo in Kent...very happy with their work so worth a call and speak to Mathew.

If you want to know costs please PM me

Click to expand...

What was your wear reading at 30k? Both ours seems unusually low mileage for a change. I'll PM you - thank you!

These cars hate stop start traffic and mine started to give problems when I used her every day for the school runs - sitting in stop start traffic seems to bake the clutches on them. Anyway - clutch changed and it was like a new beast altogether - smooth and sharp gear changes - do it you won't look back My car also spent the majority of it's life in London traffic.

The previous owner had the clutch changed at 26000 miles, so I assume it was used regularly in heavy traffic. I've now covered 33000 miles and at its recent service it recorded a clutch wear reading of 11%, but I still get the occassional "gear unavailable" when changing from 2nd to 3rd at full chat - I've lived with it as one of those quirks of owning an Italian master piece?!

Looks like it's traffic what kills clutches. But by a far bigger margin that I'd have expected. 30k miles for cars that have endured too much city traffic is a bit grim.

Let the quotation games commence...

My last clutch, (cars first) lasted for just over 30K and I changed it at about 60% as I was heading in to Europe, so it could have lasted for 40K. Be careful with clutch readings, it all depends who set up the clutch when new and if and incorrect adjustments have been done during it's life. Many mechanics get this wrong and you get a bad reading if you are not careful..!!

Thanks Rob. Mine's not slipping yet, just generally starting to be a dick. Wiser minds than mine (Voicey) reckon a sticking release beating could be the culprit. Anyway, I'll be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to see Marios so he can breathe his magic on it, and other things.

How do you see the clutch wear on these? Is it via multimedia centre or by dealer of diagnostics only ?